Check this out! :D

Last Sunday( June 25, 2006), my mom and I went to the SM Mall of Asia. Knowing me, the first thing I would do is to rush in the nearest bookstore and start finding books that I can buy :D While I was browsing the bestseller section, I came across this book entitled "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective TEENS" (some of you might already have read this book) by Sean Covey. The title was very eye-catching. I took the book and read the summary on the back cover and found the book interesting. According to the opinions of some popularly ranked psychologistsa and researchers, this book has helped hundred thousands of teens found their way to success. One of the opinions was "If the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens doesn't help you, then you must have a perfect life already." quoted by Jordan McLaughlin, a teenager. This quote is very convincing. Something inside me is telling me to buy this book and surely it would help me, but at the same time, I was thinking that I might not have time to read it. At the end, I bought it, partly because my mom said that it might help me in my college life.

I turned the pages, reading first the author's introduction to his book was somewhat interesting. He started the introduction humorously. The starting was interesting and funny. Here is the main part of the book :

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Take responsibility for your life.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Define your mission and goals in life.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Prioritize, and do the most important things first.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Have an everyone-can-win attitude.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Listen to people sincerely.
Habit 6: Synergize
Work together to achieve more.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Renew yourself regularly.

The author said that one way to understand what the 7 Habits are is to understand what they are not. (warning: the following post is going to be long, but it is interesting :P)
The funniest part of the book is this:
The 7 Habits of Highly Defective Teens
Habit 1: React
Blame all of your problems on your parents, your stupid teacher or professors, your lousy neighborhood, your boy- or girlfriend, the government, or something or somebody else. Be a victim. Take no responsibility for you life. Act like an animal. If you're hungry, eat. If someone yells at you, yell back. If you feel like doing something you know is wrong, just do it.
Habit 2: Begin with No End in Mind
Don't have a plan. Avoid goals at all costs. And never think about tomorrow. Why worry the consequences of your actions? Live for the moment. Sleep around, get wasted, and party on, for tomorrow we die.
Habit 3: Put First Things Last
Whatever is most important in your life, don't do it until you have spent sufficient time watching reruns, talking endlessly on the phone, surfing the Net, and lounging around. Always put off your homework until tomorrow. Make sure that things that don't matter always come before things that do.
Habit 4: Think Win-Lose
See life as a vicious competition. Your classmate is out to get you, so you'd better get him or her first. Don't let anyone else succeed at anything because, remember, if they win, you lose. If it looks like you're going to lose, however, make sure you drag that sucker down with you.
Habit 5: Seek First to Talk, Then Pretend to Listen
You were born with a mouth, so use it. Make sure you talk a lot. Always express your side of the story first. Once you're sure everyone understands your views, then pretend to listen by nodding and saying "uh-huh."Or, if you really want their opinion, give it to them.
Habit 6: Don't Cooperate
Lets's face it, other people are weird because they're different from you. So why try to get along with them? Teamwork is for the dogs. Since you always have the best ideas, you are better off doing everything by yourself. Be your own island.
Habit 7: Wear Yourself Out
Be so busy with life that you never take time to renew or improve yourself. Never study. Don't learn anything new. Avoid exercise like the plague. And, for heaven's sake, stay away from good books, nature, or anything else that may inspire you.

Though it may seem long, but isnt it funny? What do you think? Check the book out. I'm sure it would help you a lot. What I've posted is only a little part of the book. Aside from principles and paradigms, this book is also stuffed with cartoon illustrations, great quotes, clever ideas, and incredible stories. I'm sure it would help you a lot. Try it out now! You won't regret it :P